Public Relations Management and Leadership-PowerDr. Mary Ann PearsonPRL 560Public Relations Management and Leadership

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Peter Northouse

Box 1.1 In Northouse book explains the evolution of leadership.

Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal.

Assigned vs. emergent leadership- some people are leaders because they are assigned the job of leading. Others are leaders because of the way members respond to them.

Formal PowerCoerciveCoercive power is conveyed through fear of losing one’s job, being demoted, receiving a poor performance review, having prime projects taken away, etc. This power is gotten through threatening others. For example, the VP of Sales who threatens sales folks to meet their goals or get replaced.

RewardReward power is conveyed through rewarding individuals for compliance with one’s wishes. This may be done through giving bonuses, raises, a promotion, extra time off from work, etc. For example, the supervisor who provides employees comp time when they meet an objective she sets for a project.

LegitimateLegitimate power comes from having a position of power in an organization, such as being the boss or a key member of a leadership team. This power comes when employees in the organization recognize the authority of the individual. For example, the CEO who determines the overall direction of the company and the resource needs of the company.

Personal PowerExpertExpert power comes from one’s experiences, skills or knowledge. As we gain experience in particular areas, and become thought leaders in those areas, we begin to gather expert power that can be utilized to get others to help us meet our goals. For example, the Project Manager who is an expert at solving particularly challenging problems to ensure a project stays on track.

ReferentReferent power comes from being trusted and respected.  We can gain referent power when others trust what we do and respect us for how we handle situations. For example, the Human Resource Associate who is known for ensuring employees are treated fairly and coming to the rescue of those who are not.

References:Northouse, P. (2013). Leadership. (Sixth ed.). Los Angeles, Ca.: Sage.